It has come to my attention that the Shell Station/convenience store on Frazier Avenue next to Regions Bank at Tremont is a base of predatory towing of cars.
At noon on Friday a friend parked under a No Parking sign in the north end of the store lot to go into the bank for a quick transaction. He came out less than five minutes later and his truck was on a rollback. Towtruck driver requested $125 cash to let it off, said it would cost $250 at impound lot.
A teller in the bank said my friend was the second that day to be towed and there were nine the prior day. Another person who works on upper floors told my friend she watches cars towed all day every weekday.
I realize folks should observe signs that say No Parking and pay meters when they park in metered spaces. How I wonder does a tow truck operator know so well when a car arrives in a no parking space. The beef here is businesses that prey on places like this to bring in serious income.
That the Chattanooga Police Department is willing to have my friend’s case in writing shows this should reflect on the ability to license towing companies for business rather than predatory operations. Fifteen thousand a week income from towing is money our city could have better oversight of.
And people need to be aware to walk more and park responsibly, after all my check for $16 arrives today for a space I elected to park at Friday morning because I chose not to use a phone app I do not have or turn on location app to use a predatory parking app.
Prentice Hicks
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It's like finding a good fishing hole; if the fish keep taking the bait, the anglers will keep fishing that same spot until they stop biting.
Personally, I have made it a point to avoid that area at all means necessary since they bottlenecked the entire area, but that is a whole other discussion.
Chris Morgan